CHENNAI: Ennore is set to become a sailing destination in Tamil Nadu. Thanks to the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC), one of India’s oldest and most prestigious sailing institutions, a brand-new sailing centre will be opened at Kamarajar Port Limited on Monday.
The Ennore centre, developed with an investment of Rs 1 crore, will be inaugurated by Sunil Paliwal, chairman of Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port. The Ennore centre is an accredited training centre of the Yachting Association of India and is set to become a hub for offshore sailing in the region.
“In the past few years, we trained close to 500 people. We tied up with Indian Maritime University to train people now,” said captain Vivek Shanbhag, RMYC’s honorary secretary.
Spread across 800 square metres, the elegant wooden clubhouse boasts 1,500 square feet on the ground floor and 1,500 square feet on the first floor, housing modern classrooms, a sailors’ lounge and a separate lounge for officers. “Built with a vision to promote sailing as a sport and culture, the facility places strong emphasis on training, safety and seamanship,” added Shanbhag.
The calm and blue waters of Ennore provide quick access to the open sea, making it ideal for offshore sailing.
“As of now, the closest halt is in Puducherry, which requires 16 hours of sailing from Chennai Port. A beginner will find it too hard. But the Ennore centre is just three hours sailing time, and this can build the confidence of budding sailors,” he added.